This is the Sanriku Ebi Senbei (unbranded), made with salt and shiba shrimp sourced from the Sanriku Coast—a 200 km stretch of ria coastline extending from Aomori to Miyagi Prefecture. This geographical formation provides sheltered natural harbours and supports a thriving fishing industry. Offshore, the meeting of the Kuroshio and Oyashio Currents creates nutrient-rich waters, known as “Offshore Sanriku,” one of the world’s three major fishing grounds.
Each box contained fourteen individually wrapped crackers.
Each cracker measured approximately 5 cm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness, with a golden-brown hue and a bubbled surface. Flecks of pink-red shiba shrimp were visible throughout, accompanied by a mellow, savoury aroma with distinct notes of the sea. On tasting, the cracker delivered a crisp and slightly firm crunch—firmer than the appearance suggested—offering layered flavours. The golden areas carried a toasty, soy-like savouriness with subtle seafood sweetness, while the pink shrimp flecks imparted a more concentrated umami depth. Despite its lightness, the cracker delivered rich flavour, balancing oceanic salinity and the natural sweetness of shiba shrimp. A well-executed regional rice cracker that functioned both as a snack and as an effective expression of Sanriku’s seafood culture.
This Sanriku Ebi Senbei contained 14 crackers. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Matushima, Miyagi Prefecture in 2024.